The Concerned Kogi East Elites Forum has accused Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), of engaging in political activities it says threaten the unity of Kogi East ahead of the 2027 senatorial election.
In a statement issued Tuesday, forum spokesperson, Muhammed Muktari Edibo, alleged that Enape was being used to advance a divisive agenda designed to weaken a popular candidate’s chances in the Kogi East Senatorial District.
The forum said Enape’s standing as an ADC chieftain, combined with what it described as financial support from ADC senatorial candidate, Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, disqualified him from presenting himself as a neutral elder or unbiased stakeholder in the zone’s affairs.
The group claimed its own investigations, along with reports gathered from across Kogi East’s nine local government areas, indicated Enape had been quietly meeting with elders and selected stakeholders in various communities. It alleged the meetings, backed by “certain APC elements,” were aimed at securing the endorsement of a weaker candidate for the senatorial seat.
According to the forum, the plan followed a deliberate pattern: promote a weak candidate, provoke a standoff with the genuinely popular one who refuses to step aside, and let the resulting split hand the advantage to the APC candidate. The group characterized this as manipulation rather than democratic process, and framed it as a threat to the collective interests of the Igala and Bassa people.
The forum urged Enape to redirect his influence toward pressing concerns in Omala and Olamaboro local government areas, which it said have long suffered marginalization in federal and state appointments, alongside poor roads, schools, and health facilities, and high youth unemployment. It contrasted this with what it called the continued dominance of Ankpa LGA in the distribution of resources and political positions.
The forum said any endorsement in Kogi East must be earned through demonstrated service — visible community projects, a track record of youth and women’s empowerment, the ability to attract federal investment, and genuine popularity across all nine local government areas — rather than secured through influence or financial inducement.
It vowed to resist any attempt to impose a candidate on the zone, asserting that voters have grown too politically aware to be swayed by “godfatherism” or money politics, and said they would instead back those who have shown consistent investment in the community rather than only appearing at election time.
Addressing Enape directly, the forum warned him against being used to undermine the zone’s political future, saying history would judge such actions, and reiterated that in 2027 the electorate intends to vote on competence, capacity, character, and credibility.
As of this report, neither Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape nor Alhaji Aminu Abubakar Suleiman had publicly responded to the allegations.
News Credit to our media partner The Kogi Reports .
